At 1 pm, all of the schools arrived at the hotel and went into their suites. 10 minutes later, another group came in as guests.
"You got us a place, hm, Miyako?"
Emika asked with a smile. She skipped around the reception hall. Three others followed behind her.
"I wasn't the only one, Retsuya helped too."
The brown-haired girl said.
"Being in the Seven Great Families offers some advantages, I'd say."
The red-haired boy approached the reception. Behind the group was Saya who was reading a book by herself.
"We're here as guests for the Seven Star Tournament."
"Arima and Narukami? Your reserved rooms are on the fifth floor. Ah, please be careful when encountering other schools. I had a problem with the school on that floor."
"What school?"
Retsuya asked her.
"It was Hortensia."
"We shouldn't have a problem with them. Thank you for your help."
"It's my job."
Retsuya waved goodbye to the receptionist before rejoining the girls.
"How did it go?"
Saya asked, closing her book and shoving it into the bag around her waist.
"Our rooms are on the fifth floor. Ah, let's see..."
He got his Seeker out and pulled it up—it appeared as a scroll now.
"All of our rooms are on the right side. Rooms 122 to 125."
"Then I'll go tell Mr Tadashi to bring our luggage to that floor."
She said, running out the entrance. They all smiled looking at her run.
The three of them entered the elevator. They came to watch the tournament. Usually, guests would buy their tickets months in advance but both Miyako and Retsuya used their authority in the Seven Great Families to squeeze in.
Retsuya couldn't do as much as Miyako since he was from a branch family. Miyako belonged to the Arima Family known for their bloodline of powerful magicians.
Although she was of the main bloodline, she wasn't the heir. Miyako was the second child out of four, however, her younger brother is the heir to the Arima Family.
There isn't much she can do to change her parent's decisions.
"Are you going to be rooting Ayato on?"
Miyako asked Retsuya.
"Is there anything wrong with that?"
"Well... no..."
She faced down, unable to provide a proper answer. Retsuya noticed this and sighed. He scratched the back of his head.
"It doesn't matter anyway. Ayato isn't participating in this tournament."
He told them.
"What?!"
They both exclaimed.
"Why?!"
"He never told me the reason. He just said that he wouldn't. Although it seems to be—"
"That bastard..."
Miyako growled. The elevator rang and the doors opened. She marched toward the end of the corridor.
"He's the strongest and yet he doesn't want to participate. How selfish can he be?"
Retsuya and Emika exchanged worried looks.
"This is why I hate those with power. They let it sink into their heads and they don't use it to help anyone."
Emika elbowed Retsuya as if telling him to say something to her. Retsuya silently screamed at her, asking, "Why me?!"
The girl glared at him and brandished her fist. When he saw her closed hand, Retsuya gave up and exhaled lightly.
"Uhmmm... Miss Miyako?"
She turned.
"Why are you being so formal?"
"N-no reason! Anyway, Miya, I think there's a reason."
"What reason? I thought you said you don't know."
"Well, I heard that the seniors weren't happy with Ayato being on the team."
Miyako grabbed Retsuya's collar and pulled him toward her. She clenched her teeth.
"If you don't know, then don't talk."
"You know... if you continue acting like this, you'll lose friends."
Retsuya joked, trying to escape her grasp. Miyako looked like she was going to chew him out but Emika grabbed her wrist.
"Give it a rest, Miya. You're taking your anger out on the wrong person."
Miyako released her grip and exhaled. She bowed to Retsuya.
"I'm sorry! I wasn't in the right mind!"
She apologised wholeheartedly. Retsuya waved his hand.
"It's fine."
'If only this is how it could've turned out between Ayato and her.'
He thought with a plastered smile on his lips.
"I just get worked up when I think about that arrogant bastard. He has power but he downplays himself while also looking down on others. It's... it's... it's infuriating!"
She screamed, ruffling her hair.
"Should I punch Ayato next time I see him, then?"
"Yes, please."
Retsuya winced uncomfortably.
'I'm sorry, Ayato. I'm trying but... it seems like repairing relations will take a long time. I could use some help.'
He sighed seeing the others off as they entered their rooms.
·———·
"Hm?"
Someone knocked on Ayato's door.
"Coming!"
He shouted as he jumped up from his bed. He put his phone in his pocket and opened the door.
"Oh, Senpai."
"H-hello, Ayato..."
It was the junior who shook when Ayato asked him a question. It seemed like he was an introverted person.
"Do you need anything, Senpai?"
"W-well, I was wondering i-if you wanted to join us as we head to the banquet hall. T-the others didn't invite you, s-so I took it upon myself."
He twiddled his fingers while averting his eyes. It was obvious that this junior was going beyond his boundaries to simply invite Ayato. His cheeks were flushed red, embarrassed.
"What's your name, Senpai?"
"U-uhm... I'm Isamu Goto, I'm a second year. But I guess that's o-obvious."
"Isamu-senpai, you'll be one of my favourite senpais as long as I go to this school."
Ayato claimed with an inspired smile. Isamu was confused.
"S-so, will you come?"
"Yeah, I will since you asked me, Senpai. Let's go."
"By the way, what were you doing? You haven't unpacked or anything, right?"
The black-haired boy raised his brow. He looked back at his room.
'I'm pretty sure I'm blocking the door.'
He looked back at Isamu.
'From his point of view, he shouldn't be able to see the room.'
"I was playing a game on my phone."
He showed him the game.
"Oh, Flappy Dog? I love that game!"
The boy sparkled when he saw Ayato's phone screen. Ayato smiled and closed the door to his room.
"Really, what's your high score, Senpai?"
"Mine is 909, I can never stay focused."
"Same for me. Wow, though. My high score is 899. I'll have to beat that."
They went to the elevator to meet up with everyone else.